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A desperate phone call from an old acquaintance plunges forensic psychiatrist Claire Roget into an explosive situation with echoes in her own past.
Forensic psychiatrist Dr Claire Roget finds it impossible to refuse when she receives a desperate phone call from an old acquaintance, obstetrician Charles Tissot. One of his patients, Heather Kimble, alleges that Tissot seduced her at a party and that he is the father of her unborn child. His career on the line, Charles begs Claire to expose Heather's fragile mental state and discredit her wild claims.
With a history of making similar false allegations, her two previous babies having suffered unexplained cot deaths, Heather's accusations would appear to be nothing more than the result of a damaged mind. But as Claire delves further, it becomes clear that Charles hasn't been telling her the whole truth. Could Heather's story possibly have some merit? And is her unborn child in danger?
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British author Masters's plodding second Claire Roget mystery (after 2016's Dangerous Minds) finds the forensic psychiatrist working at the Greatbach Secure Psychiatric Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent, where she's evaluating the emotional state of two criminals. The first, mild-mannered Arthur Connolly, has, after decades of bullying by his wife, lost control and stabbed her with a kitchen knife. The other, Riley Finch, is a narcissistic sociopath who has stolen a newborn baby. While reviewing these cases, she gets a call from obstetrician Charles Tissot, insisting that she assess the stability of 27-year-old Heather Krimble, who's claiming that he's the father of her unborn child. Charles essentially wants Claire to declare Heather certifiably mad. Claire assesses the patient, and then a psychologist basically reiterates Claire's diagnosis. Others weigh in without adding much new information. Readers will easily figure out the terrible secret surrounding the father of Heather's child. Masters does, however, nicely braid together Claire's three cases in the book's resolution. This one's for those who care more about talk than action.
